David Prutton believes Rhodes could be the missing piece of the puzzle at Hillsborough.
Pundit David Prutton has written for Sky Sports that Jordan Rhodes could prove to be the missing piece of the puzzle at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls signed Rhodes on loan from Premier League side Middlesbrough until the end of the season, making the striker their fourth signing of the January transfer window.
Though he has struggled at Boro this season, making just two league starts, he has a lethal goalscoring record at Championship level.
He scored 83 goals in 159 second-tier games for Blackburn Rovers before joining Boro, and even managed six in his first half-season at the Riverside last term as the Teessiders won promotion.
Now, he adds to an already impressive attacking firepower at Hillsborough that also includes Fernando Forestieri, Steven Fletcher, Gary Hooper, Atdhe Nuhiu and fellow January signing Sam Winnall.
The competitions for places in Wednesday’s front line looks likely to be among the most fierce in the Championship, but Prutton believes Rhodes could prove to be what the club have been missing.
Writing for Sky Sports about the upcoming clash at Wigan Athletic, which he predicted the Owls to win 2-1, Prutton explained: “Wednesday have bought Jordan Rhodes to add to the firepower they have already got and that gives them extra impetus after their surprise draw against Bristol City.
“Rhodes has natural goalscoring ability at this level and is slightly different to Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher. I think he will link up well with Fernando Forestieri if they have players running beyond using their pace.
“With Rhodes you have to get him inside the box, which Wednesday can do as they get crosses in from the wide areas. It’s a big statement from Wednesday. He didn’t have the best time at Middlesbrough but he is still hungry and a goalscoring threat.”
Rhodes and Owls fans will certainly be hoping that he can find his scoring boots again and begin to replicate the kind of form he was showing two years ago in this division.
He could make his debut as Carlos Carvalhal’s side travel to the DW Stadium tomorrow night.
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